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AI Growth Zone Programme Delivery for Ecosystem Profile and Coordination

North East Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

29 Oct 2026 at 12:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

21 Oct 2026 at 10:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Oct 2026 at 10:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North East Combined Authority is planning services to strengthen the visibility and coordination of the North East’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. The work is intended to develop a clearer regional identity and an accessible digital presence, bringing the region’s AI-related businesses, institutions, assets and partners into better view and coordination. It supports the wider ambition to establish the North East as a hub for AI capability and innovation, and to help ensure AI opportunities benefit businesses, communities and the regional economy. The procurement description also introduces two other forthcoming programme work packages: helping businesses in key sectors adopt AI in their operations, and supporting high-potential digital, AI-native and AI-enabled companies to commercialise and grow. Delivery is across the North East.

The process is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. The programme’s market-engagement session and questionnaire are intended to gather supplier and stakeholder insight to refine the approach before formal procurement. Completed questionnaires are expected by 23:59 on 5 November 2026. The planned contract period is 16 November 2026 to 15 November 2030. The stated gross estimated value is £5 million. The procurement is presented as one lot, with no lot-specific split described. No procedure or evaluation basis is set out at this stage, so the buyer’s eventual selection method and award criteria remain to be established through the formal procurement.

The buyer welcomes market engagement from organisations with relevant expertise and an interest in the forthcoming work packages, including suppliers of different sizes and specialisms. The planned contract is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so smaller suppliers and mission-led organisations may be well placed to contribute, either independently or alongside other providers. For the ecosystem-profile and coordination work, relevant experience is likely to include understanding AI businesses, institutions and partners in the North East, and the ability to improve the ecosystem’s visibility, coordination, regional identity or digital presence. These are indications of the work’s focus, not published tender requirements; suppliers can use the engagement to help shape the eventual procurement. No particular accreditation is identified.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

AI Growth Zone Programme Delivery for Ecosystem Profile and Coordination

Notice Description

The North East AI Growth Zone brings together the region's AI-related assets, businesses, institutions and partners with an ambition to establish the North East as a hub for AI capability and innovation. The programme is moving into its delivery phase, with a focus on ensuring the opportunities created by AI translate into benefits for businesses, communities and the wider regional economy. As part of this next phase, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority will be bringing forward a number of procurement opportunities to support delivery of the programme. This webinar will provide prospective suppliers with an early overview of three forthcoming work packages: AI Adoption in Key Growth Sectors - supporting businesses in key sectors of the North East economy to move from early experimentation towards the operational adoption of AI technologies. Support for High-Potential Digital and AI Companies - supporting high-potential digital, AI-native and AI-enabled businesses to commercialise, grow and scale in the North East. Ecosystem Profile and Coordination - strengthening the visibility and coordination of the North East AI ecosystem, including the development of a clearer regional identity and accessible digital presence. We will also introduce a supplier + stakeholder questionnaire designed to gather market insight and help inform and refine our approach ahead of the formal procurement process. The session is aimed at organisations with relevant expertise and an interest in the forthcoming opportunities. We welcome engagement from organisations of different sizes and specialisms.

Planning Information

Please see below link to register for the Engagement Event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ne-ai-growth-zone-market-engagement-event-tickets-2003609683499 Please see the recording of the Market Engagement Event at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9umAIRAtl0k Please see the below link to complete the Market Engagement Questionnaire as detailed in the webinar: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wLSfsgQNn0q0YsEpSx4bRyrc1AcdlxFDlJLYX_BNmglUNzgwUUhXMVlHSkpMS0xESUFTNEJKTk9VWS4u&route=shorturl And the Supporting Information document: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/asset/0/document/7425/aigz-supporting-information.pdf Please note that the deadline for submission of completed questionnaires is 23:59 Thursday 5th November

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078c80
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102557-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
16 Nov 2026 - 15 Nov 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North East Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE4 5BZ
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham, TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Arthur's Hill
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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